The Philippine National Police (PNP) has committed to secure Negros Oriental 4th District Rep. Arnufo Teves as soon as he arrives in the country from his foreign trip.
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said there was already a specific instruction from the higher ups that the police will provide ample security personnel should Teves request for it.
Teves’ name surfaced amid the ongoing investigation on the death of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo but the PNP was quick to clarify that it has not yet established the name of the mastermind behind the March 4 attack that also resulted in the death of eight people.
Teves earlier denied any involvement in the attack on Degamo, explaining that he and his brother would not benefit from it.
In a statement, Teves' lawyer Ferdinand Topacio called for sobriety amid speculations on the motive and the brains behind the killing of Degamo.
“The killing has already been denounced strongly by Rep. Teves, who has denied involvement therein. It will not serve the ends of justice any by publicly obfuscating the issues prematurely before a thorough investigation in accordance with procedures provided for by law. Verily, justice can only be done to the victims if and when the real perpetrators are brought before the bar of justice and convicted with finality," said Topacio in a statement.
"In the meantime, all must be mindful of the fact that our Supreme Court itself has already said that accusation is not synonymous with guilt, and the Constitution guarantees to every person the presumption of innocence. “We shall face any and all accusations consistent with the courses outlined in the legal system, confident that, in the end, our client will be exonerated," he added.
Degamo was attending to the beneficiaries of the government’s dole-out program for the poor inside a compound near his house in Pamplona when around 10 gunmen stormed the compound and began the shooting spree.
Four men were already arrested in pursuit operations and it turned out that they were all former soldiers.
“The PNP is willing to provide security to Congressman Teves if he will request. In fact, the (PNP) Deputy Chief for Operations even volunteered that he will make sure that the
necessary security will be provided to Congressman Teves as soon as he arrives here in the Philippines,” said Fajardo.
Teves was on a foreign trip when the attack occurred. The House leadership rejected his request for extension of his travel and urged him to return to the Philippines as soon as possible.
Fajardo said there is no formal request yet from the PNP in connection with Teves’ security.
She added that the PNP has still no information as to when Teves would arrive in the country.
“We want to assure the families of loved ones of Cong. Teves, the PNP and the other government forces are more than willing to provide security to him, and he does not need to request for it,” said Fajardo.